The Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) has welcomed the government’s decision to close all schools from Monday 16 March 2020 until 14 April 2020 to contain COVID-19 from spreading.
The government announced on Sunday that all schools – public and private – should close after the announcement of the country’s first confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday.
Nantu secretary-general Loide Shaanika said her organisation had met the High Technical Ministerial Task Force following President Hage Geingob’s announcement that he had banned all public gatherings for 30 days.
Shaanika also said they also met the education ministry afterwards and that the outcome of the meeting was positive in that all school activities should be suspended to ensure health and safety for its members, teachers and pupils.
“We are advising our members and all staff as well as the general public to stay away from large gathering and to continue following the best practices and guidelines prepared by the Ministry of Health, Social Services, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation as a precautionary measure for protection against COVID-19,” Shaanika said in the statement.
